--- title: "Cleveland OH Politics" url: https://www.herecleveland.com/politics-cleveland-oh/ date: 2026-07-26T13:50:57-04:00 modified: 2026-11-05T13:50:12-05:00 author: "" site: "HERE Cleveland" attribution: "HERE Cleveland" --- # Cleveland OH Politics *Source: [HERE Cleveland](https://www.herecleveland.com/politics-cleveland-oh/) — July 26, 2026 by * Cleveland OH Politics & Government # Cleveland Politics & Civic News Covering **Cleveland City Council**, **Cuyahoga County County Council**, **Ohio General Assembly**, and your **federal representatives** in Washington, D.C. Accountability journalism for Cuyahoga County County residents. City Council County Council OH Senate OH House US Congress Elections Civic Issues POLITICS NOW HERE ClevelandPolitical coverage for Cleveland, OH◆FOLLOW#ClevelandPolitics for live updates◆HERE ClevelandPolitical coverage for Cleveland, OH◆FOLLOW#ClevelandPolitics for live updates◆ Cuyahoga County County sits inside one of the most layered governmental structures in the region. Residents answer to at least five levels of elected authority simultaneously: the federal government, statewide offices, **Cuyahoga County County Council**, **Cleveland City Council**, and school district boards — each a separately elected body covering its own geographic slice of the county. Cuyahoga County’s federal delegation includes US Rep. Virginia Foxx (NC District 5), US Rep. Addison McDowell (NC District 6), and US Rep. Richard Hudson (NC District 9) and Senators Ted Budd and Thom Tillis. **Cuyahoga County County Council** controls property tax millage, land-use zoning outside city limits, and fee-in-lieu-of-tax agreements. Downtown zoning decisions and the **Cleveland Police Department** budget run through **Cleveland City Council**. State funding for schools, roads, and Medicaid flows from the **Ohio General Assembly**. The **Cuyahoga County County Elections and Voter Registration Office** administers local balloting under **OH Election Commission** oversight. HERE Cleveland covers **Cuyahoga County County Council** meetings, **Cleveland City Council** sessions, **Ohio General Assembly** session, federal delegation votes and town halls, school board meetings, and candidate filing windows. We also pull FOIA-sourced travel records and contracts at both the city and county level. If it shapes how Cuyahoga County County is governed, it’s HERE. ### Is Government Helping or Hurting Cleveland Business? [View all impact ratings →](https://www.herecleveland.com/) No graded business-impact stories in the lookback window yet. Check the archive for older ratings. [← Back to Business Hub](https://www.herecleveland.com/) [Full archive →](https://www.herecleveland.com/) **Who is the mayor of Cleveland? Who is your state representative?** See every elected official who represents Cleveland — mayor, council, county, sheriff, state legislators and Congress — with official contacts on the [Cleveland elected officials & contacts page →](https://www.herecleveland.com/city-government/) Live Updates ## HERE! NOW! — Politics Pre-Breaking Political Briefs — As It Develops Live Political Feed HERE Cleveland · Politics Category Political briefs will appear here as they are published. Check back soon. **Tip line:** See something? Send tips to **[hello@herecleveland.com](mailto:hello@herecleveland.com)** or tag us **#ClevelandPolitics** Community Accountability What's Wrong HERE? Report infrastructure issues, government failures, and civic concerns ### Report a Civic Issue Anonymous. No sign-up. Your report goes to the right people. Leave this blank 1 Category Category * — What type of issue? — Infrastructure Public Safety Schools & Education Zoning & Development Parks & Recreation Budget & Taxes Housing Transportation Environment Government Services 2 Where is it? Where is it? * 0/200 3 Describe the Issue Issue Title *120 chars max 0/120 Description *500 chars max 0/500 Neighborhood / AreaOptional — e.g. "Northside" Submit Issue 100% anonymous — no name, no email, no account needed HOW IT WORKS ### Your Voice. Their Responsibility. The only local news platform where citizens can publicly surface issues to elected officials and get answers. 1 Report Your Issue Select a category, choose your location, and describe the problem. No sign-up, no email, completely anonymous. Your identity is never collected or stored. 2 We Match You to Officials Our system identifies which elected officials and government agencies have jurisdiction over your issue — from the Mayor and City Council to your State Representative and U.S. Congressman. 3 Public Accountability Your issue is published publicly with the names of officials who can help. Politicians, campaign managers, and community leaders monitor this page. When their name appears next to a problem, they pay attention. Why Use This? **It's anonymous.** No name, no email, no account. Your privacy is absolute. **It creates a public record.** Issues don't disappear into a voicemail box or email inbox. They're visible to the entire community. **Officials are watching.** Every elected official in Cuyahoga County knows their name appears here when constituents report problems in their jurisdiction. **Community upvoting.** Other residents can upvote your issue, showing officials how many people care about the same problem. ### HERE Answers Civic issues submitted by the community. Answers pending from officials. No issues reported yet. Be the first to speak up. Community Voice ## Cleveland Speaks Voice your opinion on local political issues COMMUNITY #### No active polls right now — check back after our next political news story drops. Political Coverage ## Local & State Political News Cleveland, Cuyahoga County County, & Ohio Capitol [All Political News →](https://www.herecleveland.com/politics-cleveland-oh/) Political news from the Daily Ops feed appears here. Check back daily for Cleveland & Ohio political reporting. Evergreen Guides Political Resource Center Civic education & voter resources for Cuyahoga County County residents [🗳️ Voter Registration Guide How to register in Ohio, key deadlines, and what to expect at the polls. Photo ID required. Register at vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup →](https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/) [🗺️ Find Your District Look up your OH Senate, House, and Congressional districts after the latest redistricting. Find your rep →](https://www.ncleg.gov) Upcoming ## Civic Calendar Political Events & Deadlines — Cuyahoga County County [here_events_block cat="politics" limit="12" style="light"] Elected Officials ## Your Cleveland Reps Every official with a vote on Cleveland's future — pulled live from our roster. US Congress — OH US House Virginia Foxx US Representative NC District 5 R US House Addison McDowell US Representative NC District 6 R US House Richard Hudson US Representative NC District 9 R US Senate US Senate Ted Budd US Senator Ohio R US Senate Thom Tillis US Senator Ohio R Politics of Data ## Data Center Cleveland DATA CENTER: NEWS, INFORMATION & RESOURCE CENTER FOR CLEVELAND [Full resource center →](https://www.herecleveland.com/data-center-cleveland-oh/) Northeast Ohio's Nov. 3 data-center measures all went against new development, from a first-of-its-kind financial-guarantee rule in Lake County to outright bans in Trumbull and Ashtabula counties. A data center in or near Cleveland would first need local land-use approval through City of Cleveland, and Cuyahoga County weighs in on land outside city limits and on tax incentives. The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) is the state utility regulator; it reviews rates and large-customer power contracts for the utilities it oversees. Air and water permits come from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. **National context:** Federal energy researchers estimate data centers used about 4.4% of all U.S. electricity in 2023 and could use 6.7% to 12% by 2028, which is why utility commissions, local boards, and voters are now central to where these campuses land. [U.S. Department of Energy report](https://www.energy.gov/articles/doe-releases-new-report-evaluating-increase-electricity-demand-data-centers) ### What’s on file near Cleveland - **Perry (village), Lake County**Voters approved Issue 16, which requires hyperscale data-center developers seeking tax incentives to post financial guarantees, 946 to 140 (about 87%). The Village Council had rejected a tax abatement in July and adopted a one-year moratorium in October. - **Hubbard, Trumbull County**Voters approved a citizen-initiated total ban on data centers with about 76% of the vote, after the City Council adopted a one-year moratorium in June. - **Conneaut, Ashtabula County**Voters approved Issue 10, a charter amendment banning data centers larger than 25 megawatts, about 65% to 35%. - **Monroeville (village), Huron County**Voters rejected an advisory question that would have favored allowing data centers, about 88% no. - **Oregon, Lucas County**Voters approved Issue 25, banning data centers larger than 25 megawatts, about 61% to 39%. - **Utility rules**FirstEnergy has proposed a data-center tariff for its Ohio utilities, including Cleveland Electric Illuminating, in PUCO Case 26-0697-EL-ATA, which is pending before the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. - **Ohio on Nov. 3**On Nov. 3, 2026, Ohio voters decided 21 local data-center measures in 18 municipalities, and every result went against new data-center development, from outright bans to voter-approval and financial-guarantee rules. Results are unofficial until county certification. ### Who decides: zoning, councils, utility regulators & permits #### Zoning & Planning - [**City of Cleveland**City council and planning commission: rezonings, site plans, and development agreements→](https://www.clevelandohio.gov/) #### County - [**Cuyahoga County**County land use outside city limits and votes on tax incentives for large projects→](https://cuyahogacounty.gov/) #### State Utility Regulator - [**Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO)**State utility regulator; reviews rates and large-customer power contracts for the utilities it oversees→](https://puco.ohio.gov/) - [**Ohio Power Siting Board**Approves sites for major power plants and transmission lines that large new loads can require→](https://opsb.ohio.gov/) #### Electric Utility - [**FirstEnergy**Electric utility serving the area; negotiates service for large new customers→](https://www.firstenergycorp.com/) - [**Cleveland Public Power**Electric utility serving the area; negotiates service for large new customers→](https://www.cpp.org/) #### Environmental, Water & Air Permits - [**Ohio Environmental Protection Agency**Issues air, water, and wastewater permits for large facilities→](https://epa.ohio.gov/) #### Regional Grid Operator - [**PJM Interconnection**Runs the regional grid and studies requests to connect large new loads→](https://www.pjm.com/) ### From across the HERE network - ●From HERE RaleighNov 3, 2026 · NC #### Raleigh Data Center Expansion Slips in Ahead of Moratorium RALEIGH, N.C. — A planned data center expansion in west Raleigh will be reviewed under the city’s old rules because the application landed four days before… - ●From HERE NashvilleNov 2, 2026 · TN #### Tennessee Data Centers Spread as Towns Push Back NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee now has somewhere between 60 and 65 data centers in operation, and a growing list of local governments wants to slow down… - ●From HERE SavannahNov 2, 2026 · GA #### OpenAI Data Center Plan Up for Vote Tuesday in Springfield SPRINGFIELD, Ga. — Effingham County commissioners meeting in Springfield, Ga., are scheduled to decide Tuesday evening whether to approve site plans for Project Camellia, the large… - ●From HERE LansingOct 31, 2026 · MI #### Delhi Township Board Votes Against Proposed Holt Data Center DELHI TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Three days after regional developers floated a giant data center for Delhi Township, the township board voted 6-0 Friday night to go… - ●From HERE San AntonioOct 30, 2026 · TX #### New Data Centers Need Council Approval in San Antonio SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Every new data center proposed inside San Antonio will now need a public hearing and a City Council vote. Council members approved… - ●From HERE LansingOct 29, 2026 · MI #### Delhi Township Quits LEAP a Day After $10B Data Center Pitch DELHI TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Delhi Township has walked away from the Lansing Economic Area Partnership, ending its membership Wednesday, just one day after the regional economic… [Full Data Center Resource Center for Cleveland →](https://www.herecleveland.com/data-center-cleveland-oh/)[Questions & answers](https://www.herecleveland.com/data-center-cleveland-oh/#dc-faq)HERE Cleveland · Politics of Data BriefGet the data center white paper for Cleveland A plain-language briefing on who decides, what the power contracts mean for your bill, and which communities near Cleveland are next. Leave your email and HERE Cleveland will send it as soon as it is published. Building data centers, or organizing around them? Use the same form to get more information or to get your message out to Cleveland readers. Company website I am a residentLocal official or staffDeveloper or real estateUtility or energyBusiness ownerMediaOtherSend me the white paperHelp me get my message outBoth Email me the white paper and occasional HERE Cleveland updates on this issue. Unsubscribe anytime.Get the white paper / Get in touchNo spam. Industry, utility, and business inquiries go to our advertising team; everyone else joins the HERE Cleveland newsletter list. Updated weekly. Last updated Nov 6, 2026. Election results cited are unofficial until certified. HERE Cleveland · Free Newsletter ## HERE Politics Brief Local government news, voting alerts, and civic updates — free every weekday morning for Cuyahoga County County residents. Subscribe No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. Delivered by HERE Cleveland. Quick Access ## Quick Resources Official links for Cuyahoga County County civic engagement [Who Represents Cleveland: Elected Officials & Contacts→](https://www.herecleveland.com/city-government/) [Data Center Resource Center for Cleveland→](https://www.herecleveland.com/data-center-cleveland-oh/) [Ohio General Assembly →](https://www.ncleg.gov/) [Find Your US Rep →](https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative) [Rep. Virginia Foxx · NC District 5 →](https://foxx.house.gov/) [Sen. Ted Budd · US →](https://www.budd.senate.gov/) [Sen. Thom Tillis · US →](https://www.tillis.senate.gov) @HERECityNetwork Live Feed [Follow →](https://x.com/HERECityNetwork) [Posts by @HERECityNetwork](https://twitter.com/HERECityNetwork) Follow the conversation #ClevelandPolitics — tag @HERECityNetwork to be heard [Submit a Tip → hello@herecleveland.com](mailto:hello@herecleveland.com)